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EC yet to get govt response to army deployment

Mannan files writ petition for execution of EC decision

Staff Correspondent
The Election Commission (EC) is uncertain whether the government will deploy army in each polling centre for Dhaka-10 by-election slated for July 1.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Syed last week in a letter conveyed to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia the EC decision to ask for deployment of army personnel in each polling centre to ensure a free and fair poll.
But the EC did not receive a response from the government till yesterday.
"We are not sure whether the government will respond to our decision favourably. We are waiting for the government's reply,'' Election Commissioner KM Mohammad Ali told The Daily Star yesterday. "According to the constitution, the executive body has no alternative to carrying out the Election Commission directive for holding a free and fair election."
"Our decision is very much logical and lawful. We have taken the decision considering ground reality," said the commissioner.
Earlier, the CEC said it will not be possible to hold the by-election in a free and fair manner without army deployment in each polling centre.
Political Secretary to the Prime Minister Harris Chowdhury meanwhile told The Daily Star on Friday he did not know of the CEC's letter.
The EC Secretariat also sent letters on June 15 to the Armed Forces Division and the home ministry conveying the EC's decision about the security for the byelection.
The uncertainty over the army deployment has prompted the Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) candidate for the by-election to file a writ petition with the High Court yesterday seeking its directive on the government to implement in full the EC decision to hold a free, fair by-election.
The BDB candidate, Abdul Mannan, in the petition applied for army deployment in the constituency five days before the poll. The petition also sought deployment of army personnel in each polling centre in line with the EC decision.
The High Court division bench of Justice MA Matin and Justice Tarik Ul Hakim yesterday heard the petition. The court will also hear the case today.
Mannan said ruling BNP candidate plans to rig the election and the government is dilly-dallying over implementing the EC decision to meet that end.
Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, counsel of Mannan, argued in the court yesterday for implementation of the EC decision if the by-election in the seat is to be held free and fair.